The_Catalyst_Review_June_2023 - 2

Industry Perspective
The views expressed are those of the individual author and may not reflect those of The Catalyst Review or TCGR.
Coffee with the Board: Michelle Lynch
Entrepreneur and The Catalyst Review Advisor
Shares Views on Industry, the Past and Future
By Kevin O'Brien
Catalyst Review Advisory Board member Michelle Lynch is a PhD in Chemicals and Catalysis and Fellow of the Royal
Society of Chemistry (FRSC). Her 24 years of post-doctoral experience span catalyst R&D, catalyst and precious
metals market research, patent analysis and consulting. She is currently the Director and Owner of Enabled Future
Limited (EFL) which offers consulting, multiclient reporting, training and thought leadership in the areas of catalysis,
circular economy and power technologies including hydrogen and batteries. EFL offers petrochemical training
through Mennta Energy Solutions in London and is collaborating with b-science.net, Switzerland on the production
of a patent and innovation monitor for membrane fuel cells and electrolysers. She lives and runs her consultancy in
the West Midlands, UK.
Hello Michelle. I would like to start by thanking you for the assistance you have rendered to me and the
rest of TCGR through your service on our Board of Advisors, and your authorship of numerous technological
works on our behalf. For those who may not know, can you tell us a little about Enabled Future Limited,
including when you got it off the ground?
Thanks, Kevin, it has been a great experience collaborating with TCGR all these years!
Enabled Future Limited (EFL) was born out of the motivation to work on topics that I believe really mattered. My background is in both
chemicals and materials - mainly catalysts, but also other advanced materials and of course platinum group metals (PGMs). I spent most of
my time prior to going into consulting looking at low-carbon innovations, renewables and the lifecycles of precious metal products and I was
keen to re-focus on those areas. I also really wanted to help start-ups and companies with inspiring ideas which would help the environment.
So, I mixed all this altogether and the end result was EFL.
Can you describe the education system through which you came, and your feelings about it? Are there
subjects upon which too much, or too little, emphasis is placed?
I had a very " traditional " education and studied a broad range of disciplines until age 16, then narrowed down into Chemistry, Mathematics
and Physics for my " A-Levels " which run until age 18. After that it was clear Chemistry was my passion and I graduated with a BSc in
Chemistry from University of York in 1992, before going on to post-graduate studies on catalysis, finally achieving a PhD in Chemistry in
1997.
I think that life is very different now, and students are much more aware of the urgency around tackling societal, environmental and
sustainability issues. I believe that more practical topics around meeting sustainable development goals (SDG's) for instance would be
something a broader range of students could enjoy. Technical writing skills would also be beneficial for STEM careers.
Can you point to a breathtaking first moment that ignited your interest in chemistry? A demonstration of a
particular principle in school?
Phew, that's hard to choose one moment. However, I can remember a lesson in my Primary School in South London, where we were taught
about the Periodic Table and the meaning of some of the symbols. I came rushing home and insisted everyone saw this! After that, my
parents bought me a Chemistry set (I was about 8 years old). One of my first chemistry experiments was plating out copper onto iron filings
in a test tube on our family dining table. After that there was no looking back.
When did you first realize you had a knack for chemistry, or technical writing? Did you ever find that you
enjoyed performing tasks that your peers dreaded, and did it ever make things awkward?
I am not sure it was so much of a knack as a high level of motivation and fascination. Chemistry involves a lot of variety and many
" real-world " connections which kept my interest. I was oblivious to anyone who didn't share my passion, so the awkwardness was
all theirs!
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The Catalyst Review
June 2023

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